An appeals court in California affirmed a verdict requiring a Los Angeles County school district to pay $1 million to a former student who endured persistent bullying, including death threats.

On Friday, the El Segundo Unified School District in Los Angeles County lost its appeal of a 2022 ruling that held the district accountable for neglecting to prevent Eleri Irons’ harassment, which involved bullying, torment, and aggression.

Irons, now 21, was a 13-year-old at El Segundo Middle School when the bullying began between November 2017 and June 2018. The harassment escalated from verbal abuse to online threats and rumors, culminating in a petition titled “End the Life of Eleri Irons.”

Irons endured PTSD, self-harm, and sought refuge with the school nurse during the ongoing bullying, the 2019 lawsuit revealed.

The incident stemmed from a love triangle ending her friendship with two classmates, after which the bullying intensified with name-calling, hallway harassment, and online attacks, as reported by TODAY.

The harassment included verbal insults and physical slaps, along with online abuse, leading her lawyers to describe the school’s failure to intervene appropriately.

Her attorneys criticized the district for spending years fighting her case instead of supporting her recovery, stating, “This ruling confirms what the jury already knew: Eleri was failed at every level by those responsible for her safety.”

They also highlighted the district’s prior dismissiveness and lack of action, despite school officials being made aware of threats and harassment from Irons and her family.

While the district claimed immunity based on state law, Ramey emphasized that instead of accountability, the district chose legal battles, prolonging her trauma.

Irons had previously forgiven her bullies, expressing in 2018, “I forgive them… I once valued their friendship. The school failed both of us.”